Isometric exercise cradle



Sept. 3, 1968 L. JENSEN 3,399,888

I SOMETR I C EXERC I SE CRADLE Filed March 15, 1966 United States Patent 3,399,888 ISOMETRIC EXERCISE CRADLE Lee Jensen, 1402 Manufacturers Road, Chattanooga, Tenn. 37405 Filed Mar. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 534,478 4 Claims. (Cl. 27281) The present invention generally relates to an exercising device and more particularly to a cradle type device for engagement under the head of a person in a reclining position and including handle means associated therewith so that the person using the device can raise and lower his body about a fulcrum formed by his heels engaging a supporting surface with his body in a straight line generally rigid condition.

An object of the present invention is to provide an exercising device with which both isometric and isotonic exercises may be conducted.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cradle type exercising device pivotally supported adjacent its center and provided with handles at one end an a flexible strap at the other end for extending under the head of a person using the device while reclining in a face up condition.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercising device which is simple in construction, easy to use, durable and long lasting, effective in use and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the exercising device of the present invention in use;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the exercising device;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation view of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view taken along section line 44 on FIG. 3;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of another form of the invention;

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation view of the structure of FIG. 5;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse sectional view taken along section line 77 of FIG. 5; and

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view of a support chain for the exercising device.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the exercising device illustrated in FIGURES 14 is designated generally by numeral 10 and includes a pair of rigid side rails 12 rigidly interconnected by transverse rails 14 spaced inwardly from the ends of the side rails 12 and retaining the rails 12 parallel.

The center portion of each rail 12 has an eye member 16 attached thereto for attachment of downwardly diverging flexible support lines 18 which are connected to a single support line 20. The line 20 is adjustably connected to a ceiling hook 22 to adjustably and pivotally support the exercising device 10 in overlying relation to a person 24 in a reclining position on a supporting surface.

One end of each side rail 12 has a handle 26 formed thereon which is in the form of a longitudinal extension thereof. The other end of each side rail 12 has a wide flexible strap 28 of webbing material connected thereto by loops or hem-s 30 formed in each end of the strap 28 encircling the end portion of the side rail 12.

In use, the suspended cradle type exercising device 10 is orientated with the strap 28 under the head 32 of the person 24 using the device. The person 24 then grasps 3,399,888 Patented Sept. 3, 1968 l ce the handles 26 with his hands 34. Then by pulling downwardly on the handles 26, the strap 28 of cradle will elevate the head 32 and the entire body of the person will fulcrum about the point of contact between the heels 36 and the supporting surface as illustrated in FIG. 1.

The device 10 illustrated in FIGS. 14 is constructed of wood members with the rails being interconnected by any suitable means normally used in connecting wood members.

The cradle exercising device illustrated in FIGS. 5-7 is generally designated by numeral 40 and includes a metal tubular U-shaped member 42 having a bight portion 44 and a pair of legs 46 interconnected by a bar 48 which is connected to the legs by a pair of eye bolts 50. A wide flexible strap or band 52 is connected to the legs 46 adjacent the bight portion 44 by loops 54 formed on the ends of the strap and by screws 56 or similar fasteners which extend into the tubular legs 46. The free ends of the legs 46 serve as handles for manipulating the exercising device 40 in the same manner as the device 10.

FIGURE 8 illustrates a suspension chain 60 having diverging lower end portions 62 terminating in eye bolt type fasteners 64 or the like to support the exercising device from an overhead ceiling or from a self supporting stand or any other stable support. Also, the cradle exercising device may be used in practicing isometric and isotonic exercising principles.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An exercising device comprising a U-shaped tubular metal frame of rigid construction, means supporting said frame from a central area thereof for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis and in overlying relation to the head and chest region of a person reclining on a generally horizontal supporting surface, handle means carried by said frame is spaced relation to the axis of pivotal movement, and head cradling means carried by said frame in spaced relation to the axis of pivotal movement and on the opposite side thereof from the handle means whereby a person can raise his body about a fulcrum at the point of engagement between the heels and supporting surface when the head cradling means supports the head and the handle means is pulled downwardly.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the sides of said frame are rigidly interconnected by a transverse rail.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said head cradling means includes a wide flexible strap having a length greater than the width of said frame so that the center portion of said strap will depend below the frame.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said handle means includes a pair of handles spaced from each other and adapted to be disposed at opposite sides of the person using the device.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 248,121 10/1881 Tuttle 27281 1,121,795 12/1914 Burton. 1,265,083 5/1918 Hoard.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. P. SHAPIRO, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN EXERCISING DEVICE COMPRISING A U-SHAPED TUBULAR METAL FRAME OF RIGID CONSTRUCTION, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID FRAME FROM A CENTRAL AREA THEREOF FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL AXIS AND IN OVERLYING RELATION TO THE HEAD AND CHEST REGION OF A PERSON RECLINING ON A GENERALLY HORIZONTAL SUPPORTING SURFACE, HANDLE MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME IS SPACED RELATION TO THE AXIS OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT, AND HEAD CRADLING MEANS CARRIED BY SAID FRAME IN SPACED RELATION TO THE AXIS OF PIVOTAL MOVEMENT AND ON THE OPPOSITE SIDE THEREOF FROM THE HANDLE MEANS WHEREBY A PERSON CAN RAISE HIS BODY ABOUT A FULCRUM AT THE POINT OF ENGAGEMENT BETWEEN THE HEELS AND SUPPORTING SURFACE WHEN THE HEAD CRADLING MEANS SUPPORTS THE HEAD AND THE HANDLE MEANS IS PULLED DOWNWARDLY. 